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This past weekend we had two teams participate in the Whistler50 relay race and the results are pretty awesome. Hot2Trot was our Open Men’s team which placed 13th overall and 2nd in their division with a total time of 6:13.54. This smashes our previous record of 6:42.04 which was set last year.

The VFR recreational team placed 34th overall and 1st in their division with a time of 7:00.35.

While everyone did an outstanding job and both teams are to be congratulated, we’d like to make some special mentions:

Kevin Hisko posting the past 7km leg show of 32:46

Kangsoon Park who posted amazing time of 58:17 on his 13km leg coming back from injury last year

Luke Liang surprising himself with 33:22 on his first ever race

Neil Johnson for posting his fastest ever pace (5:01/km) in a race 10km or higher

Alex Cheung, our poster boy success story from the Learn to Run program nailing 1:07:09 on his 13km segment.

A huge ‘THANK YOU’ go to team captains, Leifka Vissers and Tom Martin, for coordinating team registration and roster running order; making sure everyone showed up at the correct checkpoints and at the right time.

Don Cooper for hosting a post race pre-dinner function at his beautiful home in Whistler. Thank you Don! We really had a great time.

Thank you everyone who participated and volunteered at the Whistler 50 race. Let’s think about Ragnar Relay July 2015. 🙂

Vancouver Frontrunners have entered a team for this years ScotiaBank AIDS Walk for Life on September 21st at Sunset Beach, Vancouver. This year we’re hoping to raise $1,000 and we’re looking to you to help us get there! Big or small, anything helps. Our team page can be found by clicking on this link where you can donate by Credit Card or PayPal.

If you wish to go that extra mile and join our team, please feel free to visit the ScotiaBank sign up page by clicking here and when registering, search for the team “Frontrunners” – no password is required.
As a team member, you’re encouraged to join us in raising funds and walking the event with everyone else.

I think it’s time for me to come out of the closet. Again. I am a curling nerd. So, when I had the chance to spend Saturday evening curling with the Frontrunners, I jumped on it.

Our endeavour started out with a lesson from the Pacific Rim Curling League’s Krista Frazee, who taught us everything from the geography of a curling sheet, to the basics of sweeping (my mom would be proud), to the art of hurling 42 pounds of granite across 150 feet of solid ice with the precision of a military sharpshooter. After that, 24 of us divided up into six teams, and duked it out for the title of VFR’s Kings of Curling.

Having taken to the ice with the red stones, I skipped teammates Rohan, Nico, and Kai to a depressing first end: a score of 3 yellow. Ouch. Armed with the resolution to win, and the last rock, we faired slightly better in the second end: a biter from Nico, plus my last-ditch draw, and we’re on the board with 2.

Third end: a lucky “Plan B” shot by Kai gave us a rock smack-dab on the button, with two chances to score another. Shot one, a take-out, and a miss. The Yellow skip’s stone lands near the button, forcing a tight take-out for 2: we make it. By the slightest of hairs, the yellow skip misses his last shot. Praise Jeebus, we’ve won!
Naturally, a few beers in the VCC’s Last Rock Lounge soon followed. Who am I to argue with centuries of curling tradition?

Some big thanks are in order: first, to our coach extraordinaire Krista Frazee (whom we hope will join us for a run very soon); second, to Shirley Mann, Christopher Ordog, Norm Scott, and the other wonderful folks at the Vancouver Curling Club; and finally, to the 23 wonderful Frontrunners with whom I shared a fantastic Saturday evening.

It was a chilly day in Stanley Park – the different smartphones had it somewhere between -10 and -6 degrees – but it was a beautiful morning full of winter sunshine and crisp, clear air.

43 eager Frontrunners and Walkers made it down to the regular meeting place, just by Brockton Oval for 9am. As soon as the box of Santa hats, reindeer antlers and jingle bells was brought out everyone dived in.

And this was the result:

43 Frontrunners and Walkers await the start of the Reindeer Run

Vancouver Frontrunners run and walk every Wednesday and Saturday regardless of the weather (unless it is really too icy). If you fancy joining us for a run or walk just come along – you’ll be very welcome.

On Wednesday 13th November Vancouver Frontrunners and the Vancouver Pride Society were proud to present a cheque for $10,729.23 to Out In Schools which was raised from the Pride Run & Walk. Thank you to everyone who took part in the Pride Run & Walk and made this possible.

As we enter the last quarter of 2013, there are still lots of running events coming up which Vancouver Frontrunner members are running in – that’s races like the Victoria Marathon (plus half & 10km), Chicago Marathon, Whistler 50, Fall Classic, James Cunningham Sea Wall race to name a few. Keep us informed about what you’re up to!

It is run by teams of 8 people doing alternating legs of 13km and 7km. Last year we had 3 teams taking part from Vancouver Frontrunners and it would be great to see that many of us up there again this year. You can specify what distance you’d like to run.

We usually meet on the Friday night (flexible arrival time) – the team captains give out the race package to their team members and people generally have some dinner/drinks.

On the Saturday you run in your scheduled slot for your scheduled distance and afterwards (or before) you can chill in Whistler or cheer on your fellow team members (or both). We then all meet up for an early dinner and go on for a night of partying (optional!).

And there’s still time to join us on the day. Just come along to our staging point (on Thurlow between Haro and Robson) at 11:00am. If you want to join in the routine we’ll run through it a few times before we move off around 12:00 – if you just want to march alongside or help in any way then you’re very welcome to come along.

We’ll supply water and bandanas. Most of us will be in VFR shirts and dark shorts. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Here’s the map of the staging area – we’re in section B, East side, position 5 – BE5.

Wow! A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the 9th Annual Pride Run & Walk on Saturday July 27th. This was our biggest Pride Run & Walk ever with almost 400 participants registering for the event.

Thank you to all the participants, volunteers, organizers and anyone who helped in any way. We raised well in excess of our $10,000 target for Out In Schools.

But the Pride week has only just started! If you would like to join us at the Pride Parade on Sunday August 4th meeting at 11am for a 12pm start – either as part of the dance routine (very simple, easy-to-learn & great fun) – or to help on the day in any way (walking alongside the car; giving things out) then please contact us as soon as you can. We’d love to hear from you!